harrogate borough council Archives - Page 133 of 159

Plans in to transform Crescent Gardens into offices

Plans have been submitted to transform Harrogate Borough Council‘s former headquarters into offices and a roof garden restaurant.

Impala Estates, a property investment company in Harrogate, bought the Crescent Gardens site in January last year for £4 million.

It has been empty for four years since the council relocated to Knapping Mount in 2017.

Impala’s proposals include creating a gym as well as turning the former council chamber and mayor’s parlour into meeting rooms.

James Hartley, director of Impala Estates, said:

“I am hugely excited to submit a planning application after what has been a tough year for everybody.

“Our plans will ensure that this high-quality local asset is brought back to use and regenerated to deliver a building that provides not only employment space in the town centre but contributes to a community benefit that keeps Crescent Gardens as a vibrant part of Harrogate.”

Mr Hartley said Impala did not yet have a figure on how much the development would cost.

Asked whether he was concerned about letting offices now so many people were working from home, he said:

“The office market continues to change and develop and we would aim to react to these changes as necessary.”

The council’s planning committee will decide whether to accept the application.

Graham Swift, cabinet member for economic development at the council, spoke highly of the scheme. He said:

“When Harrogate Borough Council sold Crescent Gardens to Impala Estates we were impressed by their commitment to bring much-needed office space into the centre of town to support the growing and changing economic needs of Harrogate.

“They blended this plan with the use of public space that will make Crescent Gardens and its locality a thriving, community area that boasts flexible, modern offices with functional and attractive public spaces.”

Concerns about design, parking and noise

Impala opened a public consultation on its plans in October, which according to Impala attracted 19 comments.

Four were positive; others attracted comments about design, parking, solar shading, access, noise and over visibility from the rook terrace.

A chequered history

The council’s sale of Crescent Gardens had a chequered recent history.

In March 2017, it was announced local developer Adam Thorpe was buying the site for £6.31 million. Mr Thorpe had lavish plans for a £75million pound refurbishment, including an art gallery, underground car park, swimming pool, restaurant and luxury apartments.

Two years later, in February 2019 Mr Thorpe said he had agreed sales on 10 of the 12 apartments including one “comfortably above” £10 million. Mr Thorpe’s company, ATP Ltd, then collapsed with debts of almost £11million, including £24,394.52 to the council.

The site then went back on the market and was eventually sold to Impala Estates.

Plans for 36 homes in Goldsborough sent back to drawing board

Developers behind plans to build 36 homes in a Harrogate district village have been sent back to the drawing board by councillors.

Stonebridge Homes proposed the homes for land near Goldsborough’s cricket club and primary school.

The plans were initially refused by Harrogate Borough Council’s planning committee in 2018 and then granted outline permission a year later.

At a meeting today, the developers were seeking a final stamp of approval for the Station Road scheme but were turned down by councillors concerned over the number and layout of the homes.

Cllr Zoe Metcalfe also said more needed to be done to reduce the impact on nearby homes and the village’s conservation area.

She said:

“This is a really important area that we need to look after and I do not think the developers are being respectful at all.

“They have got outline permission so these houses are going to happen but I would like to see less and a better layout.”

Layout for the 36 homes in Goldsborough.

Cllr Andrew Paraskos, a Conservative who represents Spofforth with Lower Wharfedale, added:

“I really do think with these smaller sites on the edges of villages and towns that we should be pushing for the best that we can get.

“This development will be the first thing you are going to see entering this village – and you will probably see it from the A59 too – so why not make it something that we are really proud of? We should be going for designs that are exemplary.”

One resident, Noel Evans, spoke in objection to the plans today saying the 36 homes were “not needed nor wanted by anyone in the village” and called for the number to be reduced to 12.

Mr Evans said.

“This is the most intense development ever considered in Goldsborough.

“Its urban density will be totally out of keeping with the Goldsborough conservation area which it borders directly. If houses must be built here, reducing the number to one third of the planned numbers would solve all of these problems.”

The plans included a mix of one to five-bedroom properties, with 14 classed as affordable.

Becky Lomas, an agent for the developers, told today’s meeting that the layout of the homes and landscaping had been “carefully” designed to minimise the impact on residents living on Station Road.

She said the proposals “do not give rise to any overbearing, overshadowing or overlooking harms” to the area, however, this did not ring true with councillors who have asked for a rethink on how the homes are set out.

Cllr Pat Marsh, a Liberal Democrat who represents Harrogate Hookstone, said the developers should make sure the proposals are “absolutely right” for the area before asking for planning permission again.

She said:

“At the moment I feel this is not right so taking it back and having those discussions with both residents and local members is the most sensible way forward.”

Plans to revive Harrogate district economy after April 12 revealed

A ‘Buy Local By Bike’ campaign, more pavement licences for hospitality businesses and cleaner public toilets have been revealed as part of Harrogate Borough Council’s plans to reopen the economy in a fortnight.

After more than three months of coronavirus closures, non-essential retailers are due to reopen their doors on April 12 under the next stage of the planned easing of lockdown restrictions.

As part of this, pubs, restaurants and cafes will return for outdoor service on that date.

Shoppers, diners and drinkers will be encouraged to get spending to help save Harrogate’s high streets.

But Richard Cooper, leader of Harrogate Borough Council, warned it will be “critical” to proceed cautiously to ensure infection rates remain low as the vaccine rollout continues.

The council’s plans include the launch of a ‘Buy Local By Bike’ initiative, with shoppers urged to get cycling and support local businesses using a digital London Underground-style map of routes around Harrogate and Knaresborough.

Pavement licences

Pubs, restaurants and cafes with little or no room for outdoor service are also being urged to apply to the council for pavement licences where they can be given permission to set up tables and chairs outside of their premises.

These licences were introduced by the government last summer and recently extended to make it easier and cheaper for hospitality businesses to serve people outside until the planned return of indoor service on May 17.

The council is also drafting in contract cleaners to step-up hygiene measures at public toilets, with a focus on the district’s towns and main visitor locations during bank holidays when an influx of visitors is expected.

Furthermore, the council has received an extra £141,714 under the government’s Reopening High Streets Safely Fund, which it said could be used for publicity campaigns for street food markets and improvements to green spaces and seating areas to encourage people back to town centres.

Councillor Cooper said he was optimistic about the lifting of lockdown restrictions but added it must be done “in a safe way so that we can ensure we remain open”. He added:

“All the statistics we see show infections and hospitalisations heading in the right direction because of the effect the vaccine is having coupled with the lockdown.

“I know it has been the toughest year for business. We all know that. That is why we should all make that extra effort to shop locally where possible and to choose a local retailer where we can if we are shopping online.”

Shops open until 10pm

The government has already announced shops will be allowed to stay open until 10pm when the economy reopens on April 12, as well as a Restart Grants scheme with non-essential businesses able to apply for up to £6,000 and hospitality and leisure firms up to £18,000.

Last summer, some Harrogate bars were given permission to set up tables and chairs on the Stray under the temporary pavement licences and the council is now in talks with the landowners over opening this up to more businesses.

It has yet to reach an agreement with the Duchy of Lancaster but it is hoped this could happen before summer when all restrictions on social contacts are due to end on 21 June before council-backed events return.

Harrogate Carnival 2021 – organised by Harrogate International Festivals – has been scheduled for either the 4th or 5th of September and will involve street theatre, music, arts and food, although the event is not anticipated to include a parade in the same way it did in 2019.

The carnival will be backed by a £50,000 council grant with a further £25,000 going to a Fire Garden event which will include fire shows and sculptures, and is due to be held in either October or November this year, or February 2022.

Tree felling at Hornbeam Park ‘traumatic’ for residents

Residents have been shocked by the number of trees chopped down beside the tracks near Hornbeam Park railway station, according to a local councillor.

Network Rail recently carried out the works, which it said was essential for trains to run safely and reliably.

Trees up to 6.5 metres tall were removed and larger trees that could have fallen onto the tracks have been cut back or removed.

John Ennis, the Conservative councillor for Harrogate Stray, said local people had been “taken aback” by the scale of pruning and has complained to Network Rail.

He wrote on Community News website, a website run by Harrogate and Knaresborough Conservative MP Andrew Jones:

“As well as vegetation clearance, we have seen the removal of some mature trees in apparent good health. This has been quite a traumatic experience for those living nearby.

“I would for instance have preferred to see fencing used, which was more appropriate to a mature residential area. I will continue to raise these issues with Network Rail as necessary.”

In January, Network Rail submitted a planning application to Harrogate Borough Council about the works, which included photos of which trees it planned to remove or prune within the Harrogate Conservation Area.

The company said an independent ecologist had provided a risk assessment of the area to look for protected species.

It said some mature trees had to be removed to protect the tracks.

Richard Owens, infrastructure director for Network Rail’s north and east route, told the Stray Ferret:

“We know how important the trees near Hornbeam Park station are for people in the community. Network Rail has completed essential work to remove and cut back some of the vegetation with measures in place to protect the environment.

“Work also took place to allow natural saplings and flowers to flourish. Network Rail sent information to people who live near the railway and to local stakeholders with more details about the work.

“Some of the mature trees had to be removed to allow train services to continue running safely and reliably, and so our teams can safely carry out railway maintenance work.

“Trees can obstruct signals or get blown onto the tracks and leaves can also affect acceleration and braking when they fall onto the railway in the Autumn. This work will help to prevent future disruption to services.”

Heat is on to reopen Ripon’s Spa Baths

The Mayor of Ripon and city council leader are demanding the reopening of Spa Baths.

With the completion date for Ripon’s new swimming pool delayed until November, councillors Eamon Parkin and Andrew Williams, are leading the call.

They visited the Grade II listed building with members of Ripon Civic Society on Friday and discovered the pool full of warm water and the heating on.

Councillor Parkin told the Stray Ferret:

“Though the building has been closed for more than a year because of the covid pandemic, it appeared to be in good shape.

“I can see no reason why it shouldn’t be back open from 12 April, along with other pools in the Harrogate district.”

Ripon is set to be without a swimming pool until November.

He added:

“Heaven knows how much it has cost to keep the heating on while the baths have been closed to the public.

“It is clear from what we saw, that council tax payers have been paying for a facility they have been unable to use.

“The pool needs to be back open from the moment that the lockdown on leisure facilities lifts.”

They were shown around by an agent from Sanderson Weatherall, which has been appointed by Harrogate Borough Council to handle the disposal of the property.

The fact-finding visit was arranged after Ripon City Council voted unanimously to keep the building in public ownership for community use.

Cllr Williams said:

“We turned up wearing our coats expecting to see the pool drained, but were surprised to find it in an operational condition.

“In some respects it was quite shocking – the heat was stifling.

“We were also surprised to discover from the agent that there is no set asking price or a guide price for the building.”

Asked about a potential reopening of Spa Baths, Councillor Stanley Lumley, Harrogate Borough Council’s cabinet member for culture, tourism and sport, said:

“That has still to be decided.”

Cllr Lumley confirmed the Hydro swimming pool in Harrogate and Nidderdale Pool in Pateley Bridge will be reopening in April.

To comply with social distancing requirements, both will have a limited number of users.

He added:

“We are getting to a position with the roadmap, that enables us to reopen facilities, but we are limited to what we can open.”

The initial focus will be on the reopening of the Hydro and Nidderdale pools.

Cllr Lumley said:

“We have to look on the other pools with more consideration and we can’t give a yes or no on Spa Baths at the moment.

“Decisions are being made on a weekly, if not daily basis.”

Harrogate council takes away homeless shelters

Harrogate Borough Council has taken its temporary homeless shelters away after four months in Tower Street car park.

The four yellow containers were only supposed to be used in an emergency when other accommodation was not available.

We asked the council if units had been used but did not receive an answer. The units had not been used when we last reported on them in early January.

Councils are obliged to provide accommodation for rough sleepers under the severe weather emergency protocol.

The protocol is usually activated by sub-zero temperatures but other forms of extreme weather, such as high winds, heavy rain and heatwaves can also trigger it.

When they were first installed some people raised concerns about their suitability.

The council, however, defended their use and highlighted the fact they are heated and insulated.

Now that the weather has improved and the homeless shelter on Spa Lane in Starbeck is near completion, the units are no longer needed.

A spokesman for Harrogate Borough Council said:

“The accommodation units are being removed because they are no longer required.”

New government guidance last year warned of the dangers of coronavirus in night shelters.

It also asked local authorities to consider “self-contained accommodation options”.

Cllr Mike Chambers, the cabinet member for housing and safer communities, previously told the Stray Ferret the units were “comfortable and appropriate for someone who needs some shelter for a couple of nights”, adding:

“Each of the shelters has windows, heaters and toilets. We have several hostels and we are an exemplar council for looking after homeless people.”

‘Mistake’ to return to in-person meetings, says council leader

The leader of Harrogate Borough Council says it is a “mistake” that council meetings must return in-person before all coronavirus restrictions are lifted.

Cllr Richard Cooper, the Conservative leader of the authority, said local authorities should be given a choice whether to hold meetings remotely or in-person.

It comes as the government yesterday announced that emergency legislation, which has allowed virtual decision-making during the pandemic, will end on May 7.

Cllr Cooper said:

“I think it is a mistake not to carry on with remote meetings until we are at least fully out of covid restrictions.

“Ideally I would like to see the provision remain in place to enable councils to have the choice to meet remotely or in person. This will allow us to ensure that we are entirely covid safe but also to choose to hold, in particular, short or small meetings in a way which reduces our impact on the environment.

“I am hopeful that a way will be found to make this happen.”

The Local Government Association, a body which represents local authorities across the UK, said the decision was “extremely disappointing”.

Since last May, all borough council meetings have been held over Microsoft Teams and streamed live onto YouTube.

In a letter to councils, Luke Hall, minister for regional growth and local government, said while he recognised there may be some safety concerns, the vaccine rollout and fewer covid cases “should result in significant reduction in risk for local authority members meeting in-person”.

He added the government would hold talks with leaders over how remote meetings could be made permanent, as he also urged councils to continue providing remote access for members of the public through live-streaming.

Mr Hall said:

“I am aware that some authorities, though by no means all, have made calls for the government to make express provision for remote meetings beyond the scope of the pandemic.

“I am today launching a call for evidence on the use of current arrangements and to gather views on the question of whether there should be permanent arrangements and if so, for which meetings.”

The announcement comes after Harrogate councillors last week agreed to look into how remote and in-person meetings could be streamed online in the future.

Council meetings have been held over Microsoft Teams and streamed onto YouTube throughout the pandemic.

In January last year and before the pandemic struck, councillors voted against an idea of live-streaming because of claims it would have been too expensive.

But Cllr Chris Aldred said covid has now shown there is a “clear interest” in people being able to watch meetings online rather than in person.

He told a meeting of the council’s general purposes committee:

“People are clearly interested in the deliberations of their local council and we ought to continue to give them the opportunity.”

Cllr Pauline McHardy also said:

“We shouldn’t exclude members of the public that do want to listen into meetings but are too far away or perhaps don’t drive.

“These are supposed to be public meetings and we should be open, transparent and always above board.”

In his letter to councils, Mr Hall said any local authorities concerned about holding physical meetings should consider resuming these after May 17 when large indoor events of up to 1,000 people or 50% capacity are due to be allowed.

Mayfield Grove summit to be held on Tuesday

Residents on Mayfield Grove in Harrogate will meet police, councillors and politicians next week to discuss concerns about crime and anti-social behaviour.

North Yorkshire Police and Harrogate Borough Council issued a closure order for a house on the street this week after a man died.

The two organisations said they had carried a joint investigation following concerns about activity at a multi-occupancy address.

Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Andrew Jones, who is expected to attend Tuesday’s meeting, said:

“These are incredibly difficult and deep-seated issues.

“Many of those involved have long-standing homelessness, mental health and addiction problems and both the government and the council have dedicated a lot of cash and resource to these issues.”

Harrogate neighbourhood policing inspector Nicola Colbourne said:

“We’re continuing to work closely with residents, Harrogate Borough Council’s community safety partnership, elected representatives and others to ensure any concerns of Harrogate residents are listened to and the community remains a very safe place to live and work.”

A council spokesman said it was a private meeting.

‘Insult to injury’: Ripley dog groomer misses out on vital covid grant

A dog groomer in Ripley says she is struggling to pay the rent after she was denied a £2,000 covid grant at the last minute.

The government says dog grooming services can stay open but pets can only be groomed if it’s absolutely necessary for the animal’s welfare.

This has put businesses like Sirius Dog Grooming Parlour in Ripley in a difficult position. Owner Catherine Cowling says she is technically open but has lost 95% of her customers.

She received an email from Harrogate Borough Council earlier this month saying she was eligible for a £2,000 Local Restrictions Support Grant for businesses that have been forced to close due to covid.

She said the money was even pending in her bank account ready to be paid in.

But then a couple of days later, the government issued fresh guidance to local authorities to say dog groomers were not eligible for this grant, and she never received the money.

Cat said she now hopes to be eligible for a £500 Additional Restrictions Grant but is yet to receive it.

She said the dog grooming industry has been hit hard by mixed messages sent out by the government.

She added:

“Not getting the grant adds insult to injury. I’ve earned absolutely no money since January. It’s just not fair.”

A spokesperson for the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy said:

“As animal grooming businesses are not mandated to close under the regulations for the most recent national lockdown, they are not eligible to receive grants designed to support closed businesses.

However, subject to the discretion of Local Authorities, they may have been eligible for Additional Restrictions Grant funding, and from April 1, may also be entitled to receive a Restart Grant of up to £6,000.”

Is there any consensus on Harrogate’s £7.9m Station Gateway project?

Over the past month, Harrogate businesses and residents group have responded to a consultation on the town’s £7.9 million Station Gateway proposals.

The plan, outlined by North Yorkshire County Council, Harrogate Borough Council and West Yorkshire Combined Authority, seeks to encourage sustainable transport in the town centre.

Two of the most contentious proposals are to reduce Station Parade to one lane with cycle routes and a full pedestrianisation of James Street.

The responses over the past week suggest that not everyone is on the same page about what to do with the schemes.

As the consultation closes, the Stray Ferret has looked over the views of organisations, including business groups and climate change bodies, to see if there is any consensus.

Station Parade: one lane or two?

Organisations which represent businesses across Harrogate all agreed that Station Parade needs to be two lanes.

Both Independent Harrogate and Harrogate Business Improvement District have opposed the one lane option.

Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce and Harrogate Civic Society have also opposed the proposal.

However, the groups which campaign for climate change and better cycling in the district have backed the one lane option.

Zero Carbon Harrogate has backed the option as a means of reducing traffic in the town centre.

Meanwhile, Harrogate and District Cycle Action (HDCA) have also supported the measure as it would improve cycling infrastructure.

How Station Parade might look under the new “Station Gateway” proposals.

Should James Street be pedestrianised?

The proposal to pedestrianise James Street has been a long and controversial topic in the town.

North Yorkshire County Council had planned to temporarily pedestrianise the street up to Princes Square last year.

However, it backtracked on the proposal after backlash from local businesses. Council officials then promised to delay the issue until 2021.

Now, the topic is back on the table as part of the gateway project.

Two of the groups, Independent Harrogate and Harrogate BID, have renewed their opposition to full pedestrianisation of the street.

However, they have said that widening of the pavements and narrowing of the junction at Station Parade to improve pedestrian access would be supported.

Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce has said it would support a “semi-pedestrianisation” of the street.

Meanwhile, both Zero Carbon Harrogate and HDCA back full pedestrianisation.

What happens now?

The consultation into the Station Gateway project has closed.

The project will now consider the responses and move onto the detailed design stage.

Cllr Don Mackenzie, executive councillor for access at North Yorkshire County Council, told the Stray Ferret that the authority had received thousands of submissions to its consultation.

He said:

“We had over 1,000 responses for the Harrogate consultation, far more than the two to three hundred for the schemes in Skipton and Selby.

“The major question mark is around one lane or two lane and the pedestrianisation of James Street. We want to get cracking on it and we don’t want to hang about.”

Cllr Mackenzie added the consultation results would be published “in the next couple of days”.

According to the Transforming Cities website, any major changes proposed would require another stage of public consultation.

Construction for the schemes is earmarked for 2022.

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Concerns about design, parking and noise

A chequered history

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Pavement licences

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Shops open until 10pm

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Station Parade: one lane or two?

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Should James Street be pedestrianised?

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What happens now?